- Sabah accelerates its Blue Economy agenda, driving economic growth through marine parks, tuna ports, seaweed farming, OTEC, and blue carbon initiatives.
- State launches a RM360 million tuna port project in Kota Kinabalu, expected to generate up to RM1.8 billion annually, with the government holding 30% equity.
- Blue Economy projects aligned with SDGs, supported by financial access for investors, and positioned to make Sabah a national leader in marine-based economic development.
The Blue Economy initiative has propelled Sabah into a new phase of economic transformation, anchored on marine resources; this initiative will contribute significantly to improving economic growth within the state through increased job opportunities. Among others, the Blue Economy also concerns the development of marine parks, tuna fishing ports, the farming of aquatic plants, and renewable technology through Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC, capable of transforming the state's economic landscape and positioning Sabah as a leader in the country.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, in his speech, said the Blue Economy was an initiative planned by the Sabah government aimed at exploring and harnessing the potentials of the industry that will eventually benefit not only the state but also its people through the implementation of various projects.
"We have proposed the establishment of a Blue Economy Industrial Park in Kudat. At present, we have managed to kickstart the Blue Economy programme with one project that will be implemented the Sabah tuna port in Kota Kinabalu. An agreement between a public listed company and the government has been signed. In this initiative, the government does not provide funding, but we hold a 30% share of equity in this Blue Economy project", he said.
He said the development of the port as a tuna and other deep-sea marine product landing site has also been accorded recognition by the European Union, adding that it has the potential to generate an economic value of up to RM1.8 billion a year. It is, therefore, the first high-impact strategic investment in the Blue Economy sector and is valued at RM360 million.
He said the Blue Economy was not confined to the fisheries sector alone, but included several other industries like renewable energy that boast bright growth prospects. In addition, OTEC is being seriously pursued by the government of Sabah, and the effort is sure to give positive results, particularly in ensuring a future of well-being for the people in Sabah.
Also Read: Ministry Prepares People's School Students For Global Careers
“We are also focusing on seaweed cultivation because it can be widely developed in Sabah. In Malaysia, roughly 90% of suitable areas for seaweed cultivation are found in Sabah”, he said.
Besides the Blue Economy, Hajiji said the Sabah government is also promoting the Blue Carbon initiative through mangrove forest conservation, pointing out that Sabah has the largest areas of mangrove in Malaysia. This advantage opens opportunities for the state to join in carbon trading. The chief minister said the Sabah government has arranged for the provision of facilities from financial institutions to give loan access to interested investors who want to contribute to the development of the Sabah Blue Economy.
"This initiative is expected to bring positive impacts and strengthen further the economy of Sabah in the future", he added. He emphasized that all the development projects in the Sabah Blue Economy will follow all the guidelines as stipulated in the SDGs, and equally important is the involvement of the local community for the success of the initiative.
The Chief Minister said the Sabah Blue Economy will also be elevated to a national-level programme with Sabah as the leading driver of the initiative in future. In July this year, Hajiji announced that the state is capable of producing 491,000 tonnes of marine products annually, worth Rm3.25 billion – such as fish and prawns through the Sabah Blue Economy. Marine product output is among 14 components of the Blue Economy that can be explored, including marine renewable energy, blue carbon, tourism, maritime transport, and marine biotechnology.
